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How do I remove freon from my car AC unit?
I live in Florida and going without air conditioning in my car is almost unbearable. My mechanic friend told me that the freon in my AC unit might be stuck and I should remove it and refill it. I’m new to this type of maintenance. So how do I take the freon out of my car’s AC?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Driving without AC in
Florida
must be dreadful. You probably always need a towel or an extra shirt because you’re covered in sweat when you arrive at your destination!While your AC may have other problems, if the freon is the issue, you can remove the freon with some tools and an AC recovery machine.
To remove freon from your car’s air conditioner, follow these steps:
- Wear personal protective equipment before you remove the freon.
- Locate the low-pressure AC service port under the hood. To find it, use your owner’s manual, a schematic of your engine compartment, or search the back of the AC compressor. The low-pressure port is the smaller one of the two you’ll see.
- Use a wrench to close the low-pressure service valve.
- Attach a car AC recovery machine. You can buy one for about $300 to $500 or find an auto parts store or mechanic that will rent one. The recovery machine condenses the freon to vapor, which removes it from the AC system.
- Reopen the low-pressure port.
- Buy a can of freon and attach it to the low-pressure port.
- Turn the car on and run your AC.
- Press the plunger to release the freon into the system.
Since you seem like a bit of a DIYer, you should have no problem getting the job done. But if you decide it’s a bit over your head, a car repair shop will charge between $150 and $300 to remove the freon, then refill it.
If you want to save some money to pay for your freon removal and recharge, check out the Jerry app. As a licensed broker,
Jerry
helps you find and compare quotes from over 50 top providers in minutes. Once you choose a better rate, Jerry can help you buy your new coverage and even cancel your old policy!View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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